STAGE REVIEW : Comics Draw Juice From Big Orange : The Orange County Crazies’ latest revue takes hilarious aim at Southern California foibles.

No matter how bad things are, there’s always hope if you can laugh.

So there must be hope for Orange County, because the Orange County Crazies are generating a lot of laughs with their third and latest revue, “It’s Not Easy Bein’ Orange.”

Under the direction of Cherie Kerr, this intrepid troupe of 12 comics takes aim, in a series of 16 skits, at our Southern California foibles. Many of the targets are well-chosen, and even though the writing sometimes misfires, the audience never escapes with less than a smile.

And sometimes the jokes are killers.

There’s a skit about women addicts hooked on shoulder pads that is hugely funny, not only in design, but in execution by Dee Dee Hanson and Lauri Johnson. Hanson seems possessed--her face is a seismograph of demonic delight as she stuffs some very unlikely padding into her bulging jacket. And Johnson has the furtive, hangdog look of one exhausted by her fashion excesses.

Johnson and Hanson have other shining moments as tacky lounge singers and heads of state, where they are ably abetted by Lori Sidwell, Martina Lestico, Anji Limon and, especially, LizAnne, who creates a deliciously sentimental Imelda Marcos and an unsightly but ever-hopeful dating-service candidate.

The gentlemen aren’t quite as on target as the ladies, although the Dudes skit excels for pure foolishness, and Bob Harker, Ron Ruhman and Michael Lipoma make for three very silly surfer boys. Lenny Fox, who opens the show as a wistfully singing orange, brings some sly fun to his impersonation of Walter Cronkite. Jon Cianci’s plastic face and oversized amiability translate hilariously into a sleazy judge and a nerd on the make, while Matt Liffreing helps start the show with a bang as a freeway-blowout victim stymied by automated phone service.

But the Crazies are a company first, and as a company, they are hard-working and likable, a various and well-matched assortment of people who want to make you laugh. And do.

Kerr’s contribution to their success is probably off the meter, as she produces and directs the show and writes much of the material. The musical interludes of Alan Axelrod keep it all moving to rock-’n’-roll time.

After “It’s Not Easy Bein’ Orange” closes on Dec. 15, the troupe has a new revue coming in early ’91 entitled “Orange on a Hot Tin Roof.” Hmmm. Sounds like something that should stick around.

‘IT’S NOT EASY BEIN’ ORANGE’

An Orange County Crazies production of an original satirical revue. Produced and directed by Cherie Kerr. With Martina Lestico, Jon Cianci, Lenny Fox, Dee Dee Hanson, Bob Harker, Lauri Johnson, Matt Liffreing, Anji Limon, Michael Lipoma, LizAnne, Ron Ruhman and Lori Sidwell. Musical director: Alan Axelrod. Technical director: Ron Shryer. At Irvine Valley College, Fine Arts Forum A301, 5500 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine. Performances at 8 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 15. Matinees Dec. 1 and 15 at 3:30 p.m. Tickets: $10 advance, $12 at the door. Information: (714) 840-1406.